JP2001125761A - Device, method and system for processing information and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain improvement in the work efficiency of a user by automatically setting the printer of the destination to output from print data and further retrieving an optimal printer during series of operation from a print command to printing. SOLUTION: It is judged whether data print-instructed by an application show a spool-designated print job or not (S1), and when these data are spool- designated, a spooler generates intermediate data by interpreting a DDI function and spools these data as intermediate data in a spool file 40 (S3). Then, it is judged whether all plot functions outputted from the application are spooled in the spool file or not (S4), and when the answer becomes positive (Yes), print destination change processing is executed (S5). Then, the destination to print is changed, a network printer preserved on a RAM is updated and afterwards, the processing is repeated back to the step S1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an information processing system, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to a method for printing a desired printing condition from a plurality of printing apparatuses (printers) connected to a network. An information processing apparatus that searches for a print apparatus capable of printing and transmits print data to the print apparatus, an information processing method thereof, and a plurality of devices including the information processing apparatus and the print apparatus are connected via a network. The present invention relates to an information processing system, and a computer-readable recording medium that records a print processing procedure for searching for a printer having predetermined printing conditions and selecting a printer as a printing destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various resources (printers, servers, and the like) connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network).
A service called a directory service is provided as a method for efficiently discovering and using such resources (hereinafter, these resources are collectively referred to as “network devices”).

[0003] The directory service is a service having a function as a telephone directory relating to a network, and its standard is, for example, LDAP (Lightweighing).
t Directory Access Protocol) is known and LDA
Regarding the provisions of P, RFC (Request For Comments) 17 issued by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), an Internet research and development organization,
77. Further, as an explanation of LDAP, for example, "LDAP Internet Directory Application Programming" (published on November 1, 1997) issued by Prentice Hall Co., Ltd. is known.

[0004] By using such a directory service, for example, a network device such as a printer connected to a network can be searched, whereby a user can search for a network address of a device available on the network. You can get a list.

[0005]

By the way, when searching for a printer as a network device, since the search conditions of the printer are various, such as paper size, availability of double-sided printing, availability of color printing, etc. There is a problem that it takes time when setting.

In addition, if a command indicating attribute incompatibility is returned from the specific printer after issuing a print command to the specific printer, the print attribute is specified after receiving the command, and thereby the desired attribute is designated. Printers that match the print attributes of the printer, it takes a long time from issuing a print command to completing the printing process, and the work content becomes complicated, resulting in a decrease in work efficiency. there were.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and can automatically set a printing apparatus as an output destination from print data, and furthermore, a series of operations from a print command to printing. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an information processing system, and a recording medium capable of searching for an optimum printer in the apparatus and improving a user's work efficiency.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network, and selects a specific printing apparatus from among the plurality of printing apparatuses. In an information processing apparatus for designating and transmitting print data to the printing apparatus, a storage unit storing application software for generating print data and driving software for driving the printing apparatus, the application software Drawing function generating means for generating a drawing function based on the drawing function, and intermediate data generating / printing condition obtaining means for generating intermediate data based on the drawing function and obtaining printing conditions for printing a print job of the intermediate data Storage means for storing the intermediate data and printing conditions; and at least one or more marks retrieved based on the printing conditions. Display means for displaying the apparatus, printing apparatus designation means for designating a specific printing apparatus to be an output destination from the printing apparatuses displayed on the display means, and printing of the intermediate data stored in the storage means And a print control unit that controls the drive software corresponding to the specific printing device designated by the device designation unit to generate print data.

Further, the information processing method according to the present invention is capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a network, and transmitting print data to a specific printing device designated from among the plurality of printing devices. In the processing method, application software for generating print data and driving software for driving the printing apparatus are stored in a storage unit in advance, and a drawing function is generated based on the application software. Generating intermediate data based on the drawing function and obtaining printing conditions for printing a print job of the intermediate data, storing the intermediate data and printing conditions in a storage unit, and performing processing based on the printing conditions. A display unit displays at least one or more printing devices searched and displays a specific printing device from among the displayed printing devices. Executing a print control process of designating a printing device and passing the stored intermediate data to drive software corresponding to the specific printing device designated by the printing device designation means to generate print data. It is characterized by doing.

[0010] The information processing system according to the present invention comprises:
A first information processing apparatus for outputting print data, a device including a plurality of printing apparatuses to which print data output from the first information processing apparatus is input, and a second information managing function information of these devices Storage means for storing application software for generating print data and driving software for driving the printing apparatus in an information processing system in which the information processing apparatus is connected via a network; Drawing function generating means for generating a drawing function based on software; and generating intermediate data based on the drawing function and obtaining printing conditions for printing a print job of the intermediate data. Means, storage means for storing the intermediate data and printing conditions, and Search condition transmitting means for transmitting to the search server by means of the display means, display means for displaying at least one or more printing devices searched based on the printing conditions, and an output destination from among the printing devices displayed on the display means. A printing device designating unit for designating a specific printing device to be used, and passing the intermediate data stored in the storage unit to driving software corresponding to the specific printing device designated by the printing device designating unit to print data. Print control means for controlling the printing apparatus to generate a print apparatus, wherein the second information processing apparatus includes a print apparatus detection means for detecting a print apparatus that matches the search condition transferred from the first information processing apparatus. It is characterized by having.

Further, the recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium, and includes an application program.
A drawing function generating procedure for generating a drawing function based on software; and generating predetermined intermediate data based on the drawing function, and holding and managing the intermediate data in a spool file without passing the intermediate data to driving software of a printing apparatus. A spool management procedure, a printing apparatus designation procedure for acquiring a printing condition for printing the print job of the intermediate data, and designating the specific printing apparatus searched based on the printing condition, and the spool management procedure. Print control means for passing the intermediate data held in the spool file to drive software corresponding to the specific printing device designated by the printing device designation means and controlling to generate print data. Is recorded.

Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention.

[0013]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a device search system as an information processing system according to the present invention. The device search system comprises a first room 1 and a second room 2. Each has a plurality of network devices installed.

Specifically, the first room 1 includes a first client machine (hereinafter, referred to as a "first client") 3 composed of a notebook personal computer (notebook personal computer) and document data. A scanner 4 for reading the image data and a first monochrome printer 5 for printing the image data in monochrome are installed. In the second room 2, a second monochrome printer for printing the image data in monochrome is installed. Printer 6 and MFP (Multi Func) as a copier that can also be used as a network printer
Peripheral) 7, a color printer 8 for printing image data in color, and a second client machine (hereinafter, referred to as a "client") 9 comprising a desktop personal computer (desktop personal computer) 9.
And a search server machine (hereinafter, referred to as a “search server”) 1 that performs a network device search process based on a command from the first and / or second client 3, 9.
0 is set. That is, in the first room 1 and the second room 2, a scanner 4, a plurality of printers 5 to 8, and a plurality of personal computers (PCs) 3, 9, and 10 are provided as network devices.
And each of these network devices 3 to 10 is LA
They are connected to each other via N11, connected to the Internet 13 via a firewall 12, and further connected to another dedicated network 14 via the Internet 13.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the inside of the personal computer, that is, the first and second clients 3 and 9 and the search server 10. The personal computer has a keyboard for inputting various data. (KB) 15;
A keyboard controller (KBC) 16 for controlling input information from the keyboard (KB) 15 or a pointing device (not shown), a CRT display (CRT) 17 for displaying image data, and a CRT for controlling display contents of the CRT 17 A controller (CRTC) 18, a hard disk (HD) 18 and a flexible disk (FD) 19 for storing a boot program, various applications, editing files, user files, a network management program, and the like;
A disk controller (DKC) 20 for controlling access to the D19, and a network interface card (NIC) 21 for bidirectional data exchange with other network devices (printers, other personal computers, etc.) connected via the LAN 11. And a ROM in which the network management program is stored in advance, similarly to the HD 18.
22, a RAM 23 for temporarily storing a calculation result or used as a work area, and a CP connected to these components via a system bus 25 to control the entire apparatus.
U26.

As described above, the hardware configurations of the first and second clients 3 and 9 and the search server 10 all have the form shown in FIG. 2, and the HD 18 and ROM 22 of the first and second clients 3 and 9 Stores a print processing program, the HD 18 and the RO of the search server 10.
A search processing program is stored in M22. Then, the first and second clients 3 and 9 execute the print processing program to execute predetermined inquiry information (search conditions).
Is transmitted to the search server 10, and the search result transmitted from the search server 10 is displayed on the CRT 17. Further, the search server 10 executes the search processing program in response to the inquiry information from the first and second clients 3 and 9, and returns a search result to the first and second clients 3 and 9.

FIG. 3 shows a directory table indicating attributes of each network device. The directory table is stored in the HD 18 of the search server 10 as directory registration information.

The directory table is, specifically,
It comprises a device name column 27, a network address column 28, an object class column 29, a device type column 30, a color print permission column 31, a double-side print permission column 32, and a staple permission column 33.

In the device name column 27, network printers (color printer 8, MFP 7, first and second monochrome printers 5,
6), each name of the scanner 4 is written, and addresses specific to these network devices on the LAN 11 are written in the network address column 28.

In the object class column 29,
The function type of the device is registered. For example, when a specific device has a printing function, both the printers 5, 6, and 8 as a single unit and the MFP 7 are written as "printer".

The overall function of the device is written in the device type column 30. Therefore, even if the function of the device is a printer, whether the printer is a single printer 5, 6, 8 or a multifunction machine The MFP 7 can be distinguished.

A color printability column 31 and a double-sided printability column 3
2 and “stapling availability” column 33 are written with “1” when the network device supports the print attribute, and with “0” when the network device does not support the print attribute, and when there is no information on the print attribute. Is written with "NA".

In FIG. 3, for example, when the device name of the network device is "color printer", the network address is "192.168.16.131", the printer has a print function, and the overall function is a single printer. This indicates that color printing and staple are supported as printing attributes, but double-sided printing is not supported.

The attribute information of the network device includes an installation location, a URL (homepage address),
A P address and the like can be appropriately added.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a job command. In this embodiment, one command (minimum unit command) is composed of commands starting with "ESC [" and ending with "]". That is, for example, one command is composed of ESC [COLOR]. In FIG. 4, COLOR (color printing), DUPLEX
(Double-sided printing) and STAPLE (staple) are indicated. Also, if necessary, command information can be added after the “STAPLE” command (for example, “3” is added in the present embodiment), so that, for example, the stapling direction can be lengthened. It is possible to add a printing condition to the effect that the side is to be set.

FIG. 5 shows the first and second clients 3,
9 is a module configuration diagram showing 9 program modules. FIG.

The application software (hereinafter, simply referred to as “application”) 34 is transmitted from the HD 18 to the RA.
It is loaded on M23 and executed by the CPU 26 to create a document file or the like to be printed.

The graphic engine 35 is a drawing means of the operation system (OS),
(Microsoft of the United States) has a GDI (Graphic Device)
Interface, and a drawing function output from the application 34 is converted into a DDI function (Devi
ce Driver Interface).

The dispatcher 36 transfers predetermined data to a printer driver 37 or a spooler 39 in accordance with the output from the graphic engine 35.

The printer driver 37 is provided in the HD 18
Is loaded onto the RAM 23 and executed by the CPU 26. The system spooler 38 manages print data to be transferred to each of the printers 5 to 8.

The application 34 and the printer driver 37 are stored in advance in the HD 18 via the FD 19, a CD-ROM (not shown), and a network.

The spooler 39 receives the DD transferred from the graphic engine 35 via the dispatcher 36.
The print command of the I function is interpreted and converted into an intermediate code that can be processed, and processing settings (output paper size, page layout, number of copies,
Stamp designation, staple designation, double-sided designation, bookbinding print designation, resolution, etc.)
The spool file manager 41 is notified of the generation status of 0.

The spool file 40 stores the intermediate data generated by the spooler 39 and the processing setting data described above.

Then, the spool file manager 41
Determines whether all the intermediate data stored in the spool file 40 has been spooled, and if the answer is affirmative, determines what search conditions the print job of the spooled intermediate data has. Extract. Further, the spool file manager 41 causes the search server 10 to search for a device that can be output based on the extracted search condition, thereby receiving device information that can be output from the search server 10 and displaying the result on the CRT 17.

The despooler 42 processes the intermediate data in accordance with the processing setting data described above, generates the processed intermediate data as a drawing function, and sends the processed intermediate data to the graphic engine 35 again as if it were an application. To output the drawing function. The despooler 42 specifies a device specified by the user in FIG. 7 described later as a drawing function output destination device.

FIG. 6 is a display screen showing an example of a user interface of the printer driver 37 displayed on the CRT 17 and includes a document sheet size setting section 43, an output sheet size setting section 44, a page layout setting section 45, and the like. Then, the user can set desired processing data (print conditions).

The spool button 46 is pressed when the document data generated by the application 34 is temporarily spooled as intermediate data in the spool file 40 without being immediately printed by the designated printer.

Further, the immediate print button 47 is pressed when printing the print data by the printer of the output destination port specified by the printer driver without spooling the document data generated by the application 34.

When the immediate print button 47 is pressed in the first or second client 3 or 9, the application 34 stored in the HD 18 is loaded into the RAM 23 and executed, and the document to be printed is printed. Data and the like are created. Further, a printer driver 37 prepared for each of the printers 5 to 8 is transferred from the HD 18 to the RAM 23.
The graphic engine 35 converts the drawing function output from the application 34 into a DDI function and outputs the DDI function to the printer driver 37 via the dispatcher 36. Next, the printer driver 37 interprets the DDI function, converts it into a printer control command, and outputs it to the printers 5 to 8 via the system spooler 39 loaded in the RAM 23.

On the other hand, when the spool button 46 is pressed, first, the application 34 stored in the HD 18 is loaded into the RAM 23 and executed, and document data to be printed is created. Then, the graphic engine 35 converts the drawing function from the application 34 into D
After converting to a DI function, the dispatcher 36 receives a DDI function (print command). And the dispatcher 36
If the received print command is a print command issued from the application 34 to the graphic engine 35, the dispatcher 36 loads the spooler 39 stored in the HD 18 into the RAM 23, and loads the spooler 39.
To transfer the print command.

Next, the spooler 39 receives the received DD.
The print command of the I function is interpreted and converted into an intermediate code that can be processed, and further, the processing settings relating to the printing process set by the user in advance with the printer driver 37 are acquired and stored in the spool file 40.

Next, the spooler 39 transfers the spool file manager 41 stored in the HD 18 to the RAM 23.
And notifies the spool file manager 41 of the generation status of the spool file 40.

Thereafter, the spool file manager 41
Determines whether all the intermediate data stored in the spool file 40 has been spooled, and if all the spooled data has been spooled, determines and extracts what search conditions the print job of the spooled intermediate data has. The spool file manager 41 causes the search server 10 to search for a device that can be output based on the extracted search condition, and the search result is transmitted to the CRT 1 via the despooler 42.
7 is displayed as a user interface.

FIG. 7 is a display screen displaying search results obtained from the search server 10.

The spool job window 48 displays a print job indicated by the intermediate data stored in the spool file 40, and includes a document name, the number of pages of the job, a page layout specified by print settings, and a document file. The comment etc. specified in the profile are displayed. When a cursor displayed by a pointing device such as a mouse points at a spool job, the print settings of the spool job are displayed as captions as shown at 48a.

Reference numeral 49 denotes a search device display window. As a result of a search by the search server 10 based on the search conditions of the spool job displayed in the spool job window 48, a device notified as an available device is displayed. Specifically, a device name, the number of jobs waiting to be processed by the device, the status of the device, a comment indicating the physical location of the device, and the like are displayed.

As described above, the search server 10 is provided on the CRT 17.
A list of devices that can execute the print job is displayed, and the user drags the print job with a pointing device such as a mouse and drops the icon on any of the available devices. Printing can be performed for a certain device.

That is, when the dispatcher 36 receives a print command issued from the despooler 42 to the graphic engine 35, the dispatcher 36 sends the print command to the printer driver 37 specified by the user interface (FIG. 6). It generates print data composed of device-dependent printer control commands and outputs the print data to the printers 5 to 8 via the system spooler 38.

As described above, conventionally, the application 34
Is sent to the printer driver 37 (the instant print button 47 in the present embodiment).
Therefore, the application 34 is released from the printing process when the printer driver 37 converts all print commands (DDI functions) from the graphic engine 35 into printer control commands. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the spool button 46 is pressed, the application 34
Is released from the printing process when the spooler 39 converts all the printing commands into intermediate codes and outputs them to the spooler file 303, so that the time required for the printing process of the application 34 can be shortened.

Further, since the contents of the spool file 40 can be processed, enlargement / reduction of print data from the application 34, Nin1 printing in which a plurality of pages are reduced to one page and printed, and the like can be performed. Functions that the application 34 does not have can be realized.

FIG. 8 shows the CPU 26 of the clients 3 and 9.
6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a device search print process executed by the device search.

First, in step S1, it is determined whether the data instructed to be printed by the application 34 is a print job designated for spooling or a print job for normal printing. That is, it is determined whether the spool button 46 is pressed, the immediate print button 47 is pressed, or the spool is designated on the user interface of FIG. When the immediate print button 47 is pressed, that is, when the spool is not designated,
Since it is not necessary to perform a device search process or the like, the process proceeds to step S2, where the currently designated printer driver 37
Generates print data consisting of device-dependent printer control commands, executes a predetermined protocol with a network printer to be output, establishes a communication path, and transmits the print data.

On the other hand, if the spool button 46 is pressed, that is, if the spool is designated, the process proceeds to step S3, where the dispatcher 36 passes all the DDI functions received from the graphic engine 35 to the spooler 39, and Generates the intermediate data by interpreting the DDI function as described above,
Spool to 0 as intermediate data.

Next, in step S4, it is determined whether all the drawing functions output from the application 34 have been spooled in the spool file 40, and the generation of intermediate data and the spooling process are performed until all the drawing functions have been spooled. repeat. At this time, the spooler 39 reads the print setting set in the printer driver 37 for which the spool button 46 has been pressed, and stores it in the spool file 40 together with the intermediate data.

If it is determined that all drawing functions and print settings have been stored in the spool file 40, the process proceeds to step S
The process proceeds to step S5, where the printing destination change process is executed, the printing destination is changed, and the network printer stored in the RAM 23 is updated. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1 to repeat the above-described processing.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a print destination change processing routine executed in step S5.

First, in step S11, print condition acquisition processing is executed to acquire print conditions from the intermediate data and print settings held in the spool file 40. The print conditions are different from the print settings described above depending on the device. For example, “double-sided printing” designation, “staple” designation, and the like are conditions selected from print settings, and “color / monochrome” and the like are conditions obtained by analyzing intermediate data. Then, in the subsequent step S12, a printer as a printing destination is selected. That is, the query information serving as the search condition is transmitted to the search server 10, the search result corresponding to the query information is received from the search server 10, and the search result matching the print condition is displayed on the CRT 17 by the user interface as shown in FIG. To be displayed. Then, as described above, the user designates a specific device from the plurality of devices searched by the search server 10 by an instruction such as drag and drop, and selects the device as a print destination network printer. Then, step S1
In step 3, the network device obtained in step S12 is used as a new network
3 and return to the main routine (FIG. 1).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a printing condition acquisition processing routine executed in step S11.

First, in step S21, it is determined whether or not the print data stored in the RAM 23 or HD 18 of the client has been completely searched. If the answer is affirmative (Yes), the print destination change processing routine (YES) is performed. (Fig. 9)
On the other hand, if the answer is negative (No), step S
Proceeding to 22, the job command is cut into the minimum unit. That is, since the job command starts with “ESC [” and ends with “]” as described above (see FIG. 4), one command starting with “ESC [” and ending with “]” is extracted as the minimum unit.

Next, in step S23, step S2
In step 2, it is determined whether the job command cut in the current loop is a “COLOR” command. If the answer is affirmative (Yes), the process proceeds to step S24, where "color printing" is set as a printing condition, and
The printing conditions are stored in the RAM 23, and the process returns to step S21.

If it is determined in step S21 that the search for print data has not been completed, the next job command is cut out (step S22). Then, if the answer to step S23 is negative (No), that is, if it is determined that the job command cut in this loop is not the “COLOR” command, the process proceeds to step S25 to determine whether the job command is a “DUPLEX” command. to decide. If the answer is affirmative (Yes), the process proceeds to step S26, where "double-sided printing" is set as the printing condition, and the printing condition is stored in the RAM 23, and the process proceeds to step S26.
Return to 21.

Next, if it is determined in step S21 that the search for print data has not been completed, the next job command is cut out again (step S22). Then, the answers of step S23 and step S25 are both negative (N
o), that is, the job command cut this time is "COLO
If it is determined that the command is neither the "R" command nor the "DUPLEX" command, it is determined in step S27 whether the job command command is a "STAPLE" command. And
If the answer is affirmative (Yes), step S
Then, the process proceeds to step S28, where "staple" is set as the printing condition, and the printing condition is stored in the RAM 23.
Return to 21.

Next, if it is determined in step S21 that the search for print data has not been completed, the next job command is cut again (step S22). If the answer to step S23, step S25, or step S27 is negative (No), that is, if it is determined that the job command cut this time is not a “COLOR” command, a “DUPLEX” command, or a “STAPLE” command,
Judge as a command other than the printing conditions, for example, a drawing command, font information, etc., return to step S21 and repeat the above-mentioned processing. Return.

FIG. 11 shows the RFC 196 that issues the IETF by issuing the print condition 34 and the inquiry information 35 to the search server 10 set by the print condition setting processing routine.
FIG.

That is, in the present embodiment, the printing condition 3
As No. 4, the object class is a printer, and requests each printing attribute of color printing, double-sided printing, and staple. Query condition 3 to the search server 10
No. 5 specifies only that the object class is a printer. That is, in the present embodiment, as described later, the client extracts and transmits only specific search conditions, for example, those relating to the object class, from the search conditions as inquiry information to the search server 10. In the embodiment, only the condition that the object class is a printer is shown.

The printing conditions are updated by the CPU 26 every time the printing conditions are changed according to the flowchart of FIG. 10 and are temporarily stored in the RAM 23.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a device search processing routine executed by the CPU 26 of the search server 10.

That is, when the search server 10 starts,
First, in step S31, a reception port for receiving a device search request from a client is opened. With this operation, when a search request from the client is received, the operating system issues a reception event, and the program is notified of the reception of the search request.

Next, the process proceeds to step S32, and waits until an event is notified from the operating system. After detecting that the event is notified, the event is acquired, and the process proceeds to step S33.

In step S33, it is determined whether or not the event acquired in step S32 is an end event by the user. If the answer is affirmative (Yes), the receiving port is closed in step S34, and Quit the program.

On the other hand, the answer in step S33 is negative (No)
In other words, when it is determined that the acquisition event is not the end event, the process proceeds to step S35, and it is determined whether the acquisition event is an inquiry event from the client.

If the answer is affirmative (Yes), the flow advances to step S36 to search a database, that is, a directory table (see FIG. 3), and select a device matching the inquiry information from the client.
In a succeeding step S37, the search result obtained in the step S36 is returned to the client, and the process returns to the step S32.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S35 that the acquired event is not an inquiry event, the flow advances to step S38 to perform processing other than the inquiry event, for example, update the screen, and then return to step S32.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a database search processing routine executed in step S36.
In the present embodiment, when the client specifies a plurality of search conditions (inquiry conditions), one of those search conditions is processed.

That is, it is determined whether or not all search conditions have been processed in step S41, and the answer is affirmative (Y
In the case of es), the process proceeds to step S42 to return a search result to the client, and ends the processing.

On the other hand, if the answer to step S41 is negative (No), that is, if it is determined that all search conditions have not been processed, the process proceeds to step S43, where the search conditions (inquiry conditions) received from the client are received. Take out one.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S44, wherein it is determined whether or not all the directory tables (FIG. 3) have been searched.
When the answer is affirmative (Yes), the process returns to step S41, and when the answer is negative (No), the process proceeds to step S45. In step S45, the data for one device from the directory table of FIG. Take out. In a succeeding step S46, it is determined whether or not the data extracted in the step S45 matches the search condition (inquiry condition). If the answer is negative (No), the process proceeds to a step S4.
4, the process is continued for the next device information registered in the database.

On the other hand, the answer to step S46 is affirmative (Ye
In the case of s), the process proceeds to step S47, and among the device information determined to match the search condition in step S46,
The device name, network address, device type, and attribute information such as color printing, double-sided printing, and staple are extracted, and in step S48, these various information are added to the search result, and the process returns to step S44 to repeat the above processing. That is, since the object class has been sent to the search server 10 as an inquiry condition, other attribute information is extracted from the directory table, and these various information are returned to the client.

FIG. 14 shows a search result when a client requests a device search in which the object class is a printer as inquiry information.

That is, in this embodiment, there are four devices that match the inquiry information that the object class is a printer, and for each device name, network address, device type, color printing availability, double-sided printing availability, staple Each item of permission / inhibition is shown.

Then, in step S12 (FIG. 9), the client compares these search results with the print conditions 34 shown in FIG. 11, selects a printer having a predetermined print attribute, and prints the selected printer. Send data. That is, in the present embodiment, the print condition 34 shown in FIG.
, The color printer 8 is selected as the printing destination printer, and the print data is transmitted from the client to the color printer 8 and output from the color printer 8.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a desired printer can be automatically selected from print data without setting search conditions one by one. Further, even when the printer that has specified the print execution does not have sufficient capability to obtain the desired print result, it is necessary for the user to make print attributes and search for a printer that matches the print attributes as in the related art. Therefore, it is possible to automatically select a printer as an output destination and transmit the data, and it is possible to save labor and labor of a printing operation.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the present embodiment, the predetermined processing is performed separately for the search server 10 and the clients 3 and 9, but the above-described control programs (print processing program and search processing program) are executed on the same personal computer. It may be. That is, the present invention can be applied not only to an information processing system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and the like), but also to the above-described client and server in one information processing device. It is also possible to automatically select a desired printer so as to have both functions.

Further, instead of executing the print processing program (FIGS. 8 to 10) on the first or second client 3, 9, the MFP 7 may execute the print processing program. That is, the print data from the clients 3 and 9 is stored in the MFP 7,
The MFP 7 executes a print processing program to transfer print data to another network printer, for example, a color printer 8.
To obtain a desired printed matter. For example,
If the second client 9 instructs the MFP 7 to perform printing and the print data is a color original, the MFP 7 incorporating the control program of the present invention extracts a print attribute “COLOR” from the print data, and Search for the desired printer using "COLOR". As a result, the color printer 8 is searched, and the print data is transferred from the MFP 7 to the color printer 8, so that the user can obtain a desired print result.

In the present invention, the control program may be installed in a personal computer from an external medium, and the personal computer may execute the control program. in this case,
The control program may be supplied to the personal computer through a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or a flexible disk, or an information group including the program may be supplied from an external recording medium through a network such as an e-mail or a personal computer communication. You may download it.

FIG. 15 shows a CD-ROM as a recording medium.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of FIG. 36 is a first storage area for storing directory information, that is, storage location information of an installation program or a network device control program, 37 is a second storage area for storing an installation program, and 38 is a network device control program. 3 shows a third storage area.

When installing the network device control program on a personal computer, first, the installation program stored in the second storage area 37 is loaded on the personal computer and executed by the CPU 26 of the personal computer. Next, by executing the installation program, the network device control program stored in the third storage area 38 is read, and the network device control program is stored in the HD 18.

A recording medium on which the program code of the control program is recorded is loaded into a client or server, and the CPU or MPU of the client or server reads out and executes the program code stored on the recording medium. You may.

In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the function of the present invention, and therefore, the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and the like can be used.

The functions of the present invention described above are implemented when the computer executes the readout program code. In addition, an operation system or the like running on the computer operates in accordance with the instructions of the program code. Even if some or all of the processing is executed, the intended object of the present invention can be achieved.

Further, after the program code read from the recording medium is written into the memory of the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the memory of the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is executed based on the instruction of the program code. The CPU of the expansion board or the function expansion unit may perform part or all of the actual processing.

[0093]

As described above, according to the present invention, a desired printing apparatus can be automatically selected from print data without setting search conditions one by one.

Further, even when the printing apparatus which has designated the execution of printing does not have sufficient capability to obtain a desired printing result, the user can specify the printing condition and adjust the printing condition as in the related art. It is not necessary to search for a printing device, and it is possible to automatically select a printing device as an output destination and transmit data, thereby saving labor and time and effort of a printing operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a device search system as an information processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the inside of a personal computer (first and second clients and a search server).

FIG. 3 is a directory table showing attributes of network devices.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job command.

FIG. 5 is a module configuration diagram showing program modules of first and second clients.

FIG. 6 is a display screen showing an example of a user interface of a printer driver.

FIG. 7 is a display screen showing an example of a search device display window and a spool job window.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a printing process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a print destination change processing routine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a printing condition setting processing routine.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of search conditions and inquiry conditions temporarily stored in a client.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a device search process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a database search processing routine.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search result.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of a CD-ROM as a recording medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 First client (second information processing device) 4 Second client (first information processing device) 5 First monochrome printer (printing device) 6 Second monochrome printer (printing device) 7 MFP (printing) 8) Color printer (printing device) 10 Search server (second information processing device) 11 LAN (network) 18 HD (storage means) 26 CPU 34 Application 35 Graphic engine (drawing function generation means) 37 Printer driver (driving software) ) 39 spooler (intermediate data generation / print condition acquisition unit) 40 spool file (storage unit) 41 spool file manager (printing device designation unit) 42 despooler (print control unit)

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network and designating a specific printing apparatus from among the plurality of printing apparatuses and transmitting the printing data to the printing apparatus. Storage means for storing application software for generating and driving software for driving the printing apparatus; drawing function generating means for generating a drawing function based on the application software; and Intermediate data generation / print condition acquisition means for generating intermediate data and acquiring print conditions for printing a print job of the intermediate data; storage means for storing the intermediate data and print conditions; and Display means for displaying at least one or more printing devices searched by the user; and A printing device designating unit for designating a specific printing device to be a destination, and passing the intermediate data stored in the storage unit to driving software corresponding to the specific printing device designated by the printing device designating unit. An information processing apparatus comprising: a print control unit configured to perform control to generate print data. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a search server for searching for a printing apparatus is connected to said network, and further comprising search condition transmitting means for transmitting said printing conditions to said search server as inspection conditions for said printing apparatus. Processing equipment. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control unit regenerates the intermediate data into the rendering function and supplies the rendering function to the rendering function generation unit. 4. The printing control unit according to claim 3, wherein when the intermediate data is regenerated as the drawing function, drive software for driving a specific printing apparatus as an output destination is designated. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print condition is acquired from print settings of the intermediate data and a print job. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing condition includes function information of a device connected to the network. 7. An information processing method capable of communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network and transmitting print data to a specific printing apparatus designated from among the plurality of printing apparatuses, wherein the printing data is generated. Application software for driving the printing apparatus and drive software for driving the printing apparatus,
After generating a drawing function based on software, generating intermediate data based on the drawing function, and acquiring printing conditions for printing a print job of the intermediate data, storing the intermediate data and the printing conditions Stored in the means,
The display unit displays at least one or more printing devices searched based on the printing conditions, specifies a specific printing device as an output destination from the displayed printing devices, and stores the stored intermediate device. An information processing method, comprising: performing a print control process of passing data to driving software corresponding to the specific printing device designated by the printing device designation means to control generation of print data. 8. An information processing method, wherein a search server for searching for a printing device is connected to the network, and the printing conditions are transmitted to the search server as inspection conditions for the printing device. 9. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the print control process regenerates the intermediate data into the drawing function. 10. The printing control process according to claim 9, wherein when the intermediate data is regenerated as the drawing function, drive software for driving a specific printing apparatus as an output destination is specified. The information processing method described. 11. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the printing condition is obtained from the intermediate data and a print setting of a print job. 12. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the printing condition includes function information of a device connected to the network. 13. A device including a first information processing apparatus for outputting print data, a plurality of printing apparatuses to which print data output from the first information processing apparatus is input,
In an information processing system in which a second information processing apparatus for managing function information of these devices is connected via a network, application software for generating print data and driving software for driving the printing apparatus are provided. Stored storage means, a drawing function generating means for generating a drawing function based on the application software, and printing conditions for generating intermediate data based on the drawing function and printing a print job of the intermediate data An intermediate data generation / printing condition obtaining unit that obtains the intermediate data and printing conditions, a search condition transmitting unit that transmits the printing conditions to the search server as the printing device search conditions, Display means for displaying at least one or more printing devices searched based on printing conditions,
A printing device designating unit for designating a specific printing device to be an output destination from the printing devices displayed on the display unit, and the intermediate data stored in the storage unit being specified by the printing device designating unit. Print control means for passing print data to drive software corresponding to a specific printing apparatus and controlling the generation of print data, wherein the second information processing apparatus retrieves the search data transferred from the first information processing apparatus. An information processing system comprising a printing device detecting unit that detects a printing device that meets conditions. 14. The information processing system according to claim 13, wherein said print control means regenerates said intermediate data into said drawing function and outputs it to said drawing function generating means. 15. The printing control unit according to claim 14, wherein when the intermediate data is regenerated as the drawing function, drive software for driving a specific printing apparatus as an output destination is designated. The information processing system as described. 16. The information processing system according to claim 13, wherein the printing condition is obtained from print settings of the intermediate data and a print job. 17. The information processing system according to claim 13, wherein the printing condition includes function information of a device connected to the network. 18. A drawing function generating procedure for generating a drawing function based on application software, generating predetermined intermediate data based on the drawing function, and spooling the intermediate data without passing the intermediate data to driving software of a printing apparatus. A spool management procedure for holding and managing the print job in a file, and a printing apparatus designation procedure for acquiring printing conditions for printing the print job of the intermediate data and designating the specific printing apparatus to be searched based on the printing conditions And printing for controlling to generate print data by passing intermediate data held in the spool file by the spool management procedure to driving software corresponding to the specific printing device designated by the printing device designation means. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the control means.